Paul Finebaum Predicts Winner Of Big-Time Sweet 16 Game

On Thursday night, the West region's top-seeded North Carolina will collide with fourth-seeded Alabama in the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

UNC is a 4.5-point favorite to beat the Crimson Tide and advance to the Elite 8. The game will take place in Los Angeles and tipoff is scheduled for 9:39 p.m. ET.

This is a game that most of the country is split on. Even ESPN's matchup predictor is split down the middle. The matchup predictor gives UNC a 50.4% chance to win, compared to 49.6% to Alabama.

Paul Finebaum's also not totally sold on his pick, but he is leaning toward the Tar Heels to continue their tradition of excellence in March.

"Still trying to come up with a strong opinion there," Finebaum said when asked who he has winning the game. "Right now I'm slightly leaning toward the Tar Heels."

After falling to NC State in the ACC Championship Game, UNC was dominant in its first two games of the NCAA Tournament. Alabama, which exited early in the SEC Tournament, took care of business against Charleston Southern, despite being heavily picked against in brackets.